The Premier League's last act of the day fell to Antonio Conte’s team and once more the last word goes to them too, a side capable of absorbing the pressure of the title race and winning games, although there are times when you wonder if they feel any pressure at all.

Conte said afterwards that it was not easy playing after Tottenham Hotspur had demolished Watford to cut Chelsea’s lead at the top to four points but that he enjoyed the pressure all the same, and expected his own players to cope with it. The league leaders did that with a victory that restores their lead over Spurs in second place to seven points and means that they require five wins to wrap up the title.

Conte does not bother too much with the opposition but after the game he was at pains to point out just how far his team had come in the space of eight months. This was, he reminded everyone, a team that finished 10th last year and that Chelsea’s progress since last summer had far outstripped that of Spurs.

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“Don't forget that last season Tottenham fought for the title until the end. That means they are a really good team. Last season Chelsea were 10th and now we are top of the table. I think Tottenham had two or three new players [in the summer] and are stronger than last season. It's important to understand this. It's important to compare teams the right way.”

The Italian was trying to fight back against the notion that Chelsea are exactly where Chelsea should be, simply because they have won four titles in the last 12 years. It might also have been a subtle way of reminding everyone that it has been Conte who has effected the change in results.

One week on from the shock of defeat at home to Crystal Palace, Conte’s team have taken six points from two games and re-established themselves as the side to catch. As for the pressure, Conte says that he thrives on it. “I like the pressure, I live off pressure. I don't see pressure, I put pressure [on]. I think pressure gives you the best of yourself.”

For periods this was a good Bournemouth performance, especially in the latter stages of the first half when Josh King scored for the home side and they looked like they could perhaps get back into the game. But there is a rhythm to the way that Chelsea take hold of a match and this one was no different.

Adam Smith was unfortunate with a first-half own goal, before Eden Hazard bewitched Artur Boruc on the counter-attack for the second. Eventually it was the quality which told, and Marcos Alonso’s left-footed free-kick on 68 minutes sealed the result for Chelsea. It was an unsaveable strike and proof that, when the pressure is on, Conte has players who can deliver.

The travelling support sang “Tottenham Hotspur, we’re waiting for you” which may have been a nod to the FA Cup semi-final later this month. Going behind to this Chelsea team is a curse on any opponent, all of whom find themselves trying to break down a midfield that moves as one piece, suffocating the ambitions of those up against it.

It was a tough afternoon for Bournemouth who were good at times, none more than King, the former Manchester United academy boy, who looked to be more than a match even for the international defenders in Chelsea’s side.

Eddie Howe started Jack Wilshere for the second game in a row for the first time since February and there was a mixed performance from the man from Arsenal. He can still pick out a pass beautifully as he did once in the first half to Ryan Fraser from the very deep-lying position that he took up. At other times he seemed strangely immobile and was caught in possession, most critically for the second Chelsea goal

Bournemouth are now three games without a win and in the fast-changing situation in the bottom-half of the Premier League, Howe dismissed the notion that his team had no reason to fear relegation.

“Believe me, motivating the players is no problem at all. We are motivated to get as many points as we can and guard against any problems later on.”

The first Chelsea goal was a strange affair, a huge slice by Diego Costa whose left-footed shot was going well wide when it clipped the head of Adam Smith, sliding in for the block, and crept inside Boruc’s right post.

Shortly after that, Wilshere was dispossessed in midfield and the ball went from Pedro to N’Golo Kante whose pass over the top and into the left channel set Hazard free to run at goal. The problem for any goalkeeper trying to second guess a player as majestically adept with the ball on either foot as Hazard is exactly what side he is going to attempt to pass you on.

Boruc bought Hazard’s first offering, a perfectly plausible shape-up to strike it with his right, before the winger switched the ball onto his left and left the Bournemouth goalkeeper wondering where he had gone. The ball was rolled into the net by Hazard and Chelsea looked well set to win.

Benik Afobe hit the post when he took a Charlie Daniels left-wing cross first time and then three minutes before the break, the home team scored. It was a fine counter-attack. From Danny Pugh to Afobe, the ball went right to King who hit his shot first time. With the benefit of a flick off David Luiz, who was in the wrong position to make a proper tackle, the ball beat Thibaut Courtois past his left hand.

The free-kick from which Alonso scored was awarded for a very bad tackle by Steve Cook on Costa and in a more highly-charged game the Bournemouth man might have found himself dismissed.

The position of the kick was ideal for Alonso’s left foot and he swept it over the wall and into the top-left corner of the Bournemouth goal, with Boruc once again helpless to do anything about it. That, from Bournemouth’s point of view, was the story of their afternoon.

81 mins

Costa is lucky to win a free-kick that isn't after losing the ball by the Chelsea penalty area. The ball is played forward quickly, Moses comes in from the right and shoots... it's saved! Hazard slips while trying to dart on to the loose ball.

67 mins

McManaman finds a poorly timed slide tackle particularly amusing as it sends Costa flying to the ground while trying to control the ball just outside the area. Luiz and Alonso are sizing this one up... it's a good position to shoot from...

66 mins

63 mins

Pedro is played in on the left of the penalty area, jinks past one challenge and is tackled on the second. Bournemouth are looking for the equaliser here, Chelsea just trying to hit them on the counter-attack.

Time on ball (45 - 60 min)

60 mins

Oooooh that's close. A free-kick routine nearly gives a chance to score as it is taken short, blasted from distance by Francis and a striker slides in to try and set up Afobe for a tap in. The forwards were offside and the first shot wasn't quite caught well enough though.

54 mins

And nearly gets in for a shot again soon after. Smith might have hurt himself with that attempted lunge on Alonso.

Bournemouth are clearly trying to wind up Costa by leaving a little on him with every challenge. Kante wins the ball back superbly in the centre of the pitch as Bournemouth threaten to counter. The ball is nearly run out of play but Pedro works hard to keep it in, finds Hazard and Hazard powers a cross into the box. Costa inches away from connecting with a header.

51 mins

Smith goes in with a really aggressive tackle by the touchline - if he gets Alonso there, it's not going to end well. Alonso rides the challenge and has the entire left wing to run into, gets to the box and lifts a pass into the six yard area for Costa... but Boruc grabs it.

48 mins

The sun still hasn't gone down, giving the BT Sport cameraman and various still photographers the most difficult job of the day. Ryan Fraser has been causing Marcos Alonso problems of another kind on that left wing. He's very quick.

45 mins +2

45 mins

And the momentum has shifted all of a sudden! King is played in down the right again and spots Afobe at the back post, sending a teasing cross into the area. Azpilicueta is alert and heads away before it is turned into a goal... but Courtois mops up from the resulting throw in.

39 mins

Moses is everywhere! He's begun moving inside into the half space (NERD ALERT), Hazard switches to the right, Pedro lets the ball go through him with a clever flick/dummy and Hazard's dinked cross is almost turned into a third goal.

33 mins

Chelsea are dangerous on the counter-attack. Wilshere gets caught on the ball in the centre circle by Kante, Pedro bursts forward, Costa runs off the shoulder of the last man and shoots from just inside the box but it's deflected out for a corner. Costa hasn't looked quite himself for a few weeks now.

Time on ball (15 - 30 min)

30 mins

AFOBE OFF THE POST! Great run from the striker! He hits a first time volley on the sidefoot after a fantastic delivery from Daniels, but it cannons off the post, hits Courtois and bounces away! So close.

25 mins

Chelsea sitting back now, letting Bournemouth try and pick their way through them but that's a very tall order and although the passing is nice, nothing's coming so far. Wilshere tries to make it happen and is bundled over by Luiz just outside the box. Decent chance to shoot here, if not a little too close to the goal, Clive.

GOOOOOOAAAAALLL!

It's 1-0 and it's Diego Costa, who pulls off a smart turn from Moses' pass to leave a defender on his back and then completely mis-hits his shot. The ball looks like it's flying wide but takes a deflection off Smith and wrong foots Boruc.

15 mins

Hazard is taken down with a strong slide challenge from Harry Arter. Steve McManaman seems to think there's nothing wrong with the tackle, but clearly there is and the referee awards a free-kick.

Chelsea move forward, Moses gets on the ball and cuts onto his left foot to shoot but it's blocked and goes out for a throw. Bournemouth win it back, Wilshere brings the ball out a few yards and spots Fraser breaking away ahead, threads a ball through and Fraser shanks his effort well wide.

Time on ball (0 - 15 min)

12 mins

I really wish BT Sport would stop calling it "Jake and the boys" when trying to make me watch their coverage. I'm sure they're cracking lads but the banter levels sound dangerously high when grown adults are referred to as boys.

This giant bright ball of light in the sky is making it ever so slightly more difficult than usual to follow the game when the football on the ground is near the Bournemouth goal. The cameraman is having to adjust brightness all over the shop and it looks like that half of the pitch is being filmed through a ghost.

Hazard beats the offside trap but just can't get enough on a long ball over the top to him.

Chelsea threaten for the first time

9 mins

Moses is being chased back towards his own goal and loses balance as he's given a little shove. He tries his best to get back to his feet but goes down and grabs the ball with his hands to stop the Bournemouth player chasing him from getting away. It's a free-kick for the home side and a booking for Moses.

What a lovely day

Horses

There's some sort of sport involving horses going on elsewhere, but this evening's football action is in neigh danger of being exciting. Chelsea have been excellent away from home all season and should see off the threat Bournemouth pose, even if Eddie Howe's side has improved recently. Diego Costa has had a real dip in form the last few games and could do with kicking on again.